The Darkest Promise

By: Gena Showalter

Narrated by: Max Bellmore

Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Gena Showalter returns with a sizzling Lords of the Underworld story about an iron-willed sovereign and the somber beauty who melts him with a glance.

Possessed by the demon of Misery, Cameo isn't allowed to experience joy. If she dares, her memory is wiped clean. With no other recourse, she sneaks into a land more fantastical than any fairy tale, determined to find the one man with the key to her redemption.

Lazarus the Cruel and Unusual rules his kingdom with a single unwavering focus: to build his army and annihilate his enemies. Nothing distracts him - until Cameo. He is relentless in his quest to make her smile and seduce her into his bed.

As dark forces conspire against them, threatening to destroy the fragile bond they've forged, the once-calm Lazarus grows crazed. Every heart-stopping kiss and wicked touch causes Cameo to teeter on the brink of happiness. But if she falls, she risks forgetting him forever.

©2015 Gena Showalter (P)2017 Recorded Books

CANT PUT IT DOWN!

The book was amazing and I love the narration by Max Belmore! The book has just as much action and adventure as it does romance and raw strength of worrier men and women you really feel like your there or watching it on a big screen. (They really should make a movie series or HBO/ Netflix series!!! Hint hint)

An Amazing and Action Packed Book

I enjoyed listening to this book, as always Max did a great job narratoring Gena's awesome work. I loved Misery and Lazarus as a couple. The chemistry between them were sizzling hot, along with some very fun and tender moments.

totally awesome

loved it completely, emotional ride🤗😂😍😲😃😃😃, felt great when I was done, like watching really good feel good movie

I loved it!

great book I love them all very much but I really liked Lazarus and cameos story!! great addition

loved it..... <3

As always with a gena showalter book I LOVED it. Amazing characters and a beautiful story that takes you on an amazing journey to a completely different world while remaining completely relatable

Another great installment

Another must listen for lords of the underworld fans. I really enjoyed this one. worth listening to and highly recommend.

love it

this story is so great I am looking forward to the next audiobook

Really good story/addition to the series :D

4-4.5 stars

This was a really good story and addition to the series. I have to admit to a certain amount of curiosity about how Showalter could make Cameo into a good heroine when she's inhabited by the demon, Misery but she did a surprisingly good job at making Cameo someone I could root for.

Cameo is an Immortal woman that was part of the reason why Pandora's box was opened. As punishment, the Greek gods decided that Cameo and the other's responsible would be bonded with the demons that escaped the box so the demons wouldn't be let lose on the world. Cameo was bonded with the demon of Misery, who not only tries to spawn misery in those nearby, he also makes Cameo so miserable that her life is pretty much a living hell.

Lazarus is an immortal man that has special powers and is intent on revenge. Lazarus' parents weren't happy and his childhood wasn't a good one. It was topped off by his mother being killed and his father being imprisoned (although he hated his father so the only reason that part bothered him is because it keeps him from being able to kill his father). Lazarus was also enslaved for a long time by a harpy that wanted him as her consort and used magic to hold him captive. Lazarus has sworn vengeance on the harpy, his mother's killer and his father.

Cameo and Lazarus had an encounter that took place before this book started where they worked together to try to find Pandora's box. They almost succeeded but Cameo lost her memories of that time and doesn't know what happened. Desperate to figure out what she forgot, Cameo goes to find Lazarus and try to figure out what she forgot. Lazarus has mixed feelings about seeing Cameo again because he discovered that she's his destined mate. He's seriously drawn to her and this should be a good thing but something in his heritage causes a weakness that seems likely to kill him, and the longer he spends with Cameo, the more it spreads. Because of his reluctance to experience this weakness, Lazarus attempts to spend as little time as possible with Cameo.

Despite his fears, Lazarus wants Cameo badly and figures maybe he can have just a short affair with her before they break things off and she leaves. Cameo isn't willing to be with a man that doesn't like her though so when Lazarus' reluctance shows through to Cameo, she sees it as him not liking her as a person and backs off. They do still end up in an adventure together and it gives them a few days to bond so once they split up, the longing for each other is rough on both of them. They do get reunited but there's a good amount of angst and danger to get past before things get completely settled. Thankfully, although Cameo and Lazarus both suffer from bouts of relationship dumbassedness, they do end things happily together and starting on a well deserved HEA.

I really enjoyed this story. I always felt for Cameo as a secondary character in the other books...it had to be so rough not to even be able to speak much because your voice causes people to cry (or at least wince). Until I read this book, I didn't realize how bad Cameo had it and it made me even happier that things worked out the way they did...with Cameo and Lazarus (who also had a hell of a life) getting their HEA. I wont say that the story was perfect but I had no major complaints. Overall, I loved the characters, the story was really good and it was very engaging so I'd recommend this (and the whole series). :D

Ok

definitely not one of my favorites 3 and 1/2 Stars Max was great as always

I absolutely adore anything Gena showalter

these books never disappoint! I feel head or heel crazy to find out everything Lazarus the moment he appeared in strikers book. The moment I found out about this book I knew I had to read it immediately! his match with Cameo is absolutely perfect! This book definitely is EVERYTHING! HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SERIES TO ANYONE WHO LIKE PARANORMAL ROMANCE & ANYONE WHO IS A SUCKER FOR A GREAT FANTASY STORYLINE!